Ok guys I need help. Jumped into my truck today at the store, about the 3rd stop this morning (04 Tacoma, 3.4L Auto Tranny, 50K miles) start her up, throw her into drive, hit the gas and she wont go anywhere. Put it into park and it starts grinding, and then fully seats into park and grinding stops.

So I try again, into drive and the "A/T P" light comes on, which on the manual says to shift out of neutral. I try R, D, 2, L, nothing will get the truck to move. Push the 4WD button, still nothing.

Checked the fluid its all good, actually maybe just a little high. So I then have my buddy do the shifting while Im underneath, and the connector link moves just fine. Then I tell him to put it in park again and the grinding continues and its happening in the dead center of the Tranny.

So my next thing to try is put gear selector in Neutral, and manual shift 4WD lever into 4HI, put it in drive and WHALA she moves, same as in 4L. I also notice that when the truck is manually engaged in either 4-H or L and I put it into park there is no grinding.

So I had to drive her home today in 4H on the back streets, and now I have NO clue how to diagnose this problem. But seeing as it will drive in 4WD but not 2WD seems like a Transfer Case problem. What do yuo guys think? Oh and ya I did check the driveshafts. A-OK. Also checked the codes, and there are None. Please give me some ideas guys. Thanks.
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Check transfer case fluids for meta shavings?

 

Check the transfer case shifter itself. Maybe a shift fork went bad in the transfer case.

James

 

Im retarded, somehow the Transfer case popped into neutral when this all started happening so my mind just started going off on everything that could be wrong and overthought the situation, when it was just a simple lever mis-positioning.

As for the grinding and A/T P light, they must have come from the case and tranny not syncronizing a few times. But they have all disappeared now.

I guess this is what happens when the human factor becomes involved and starts thinking the worst rather than the overall big easy picture.

Thanks for the ideas though guys

 

I was going to say that the A/T P light will come on when the transfer case is in neutral.....glad you got it fixed and on the cheap too! (I know I've never had to 'fix' something like that :-) )

 

i know this is an old thread but i was having the same problem tonight at midnight and i was in panic mode because i have to start a new job tomorrow. i was about to get my 4runner towed and i stopped and thought ill bet i can find out whats wrong if i check on yotatech!!!!
so i just want to say thanks to Elkaholic because if we hadn't posted this problem and solution i would have just spent a lot of money to have my car towed and looked at by a mechanic!!!!!!!! so Elkaholic if you still live in Washington and you ever make it up to the U-district in Seattle i owe you a Beer!!!
thanks again
Nick

 

Samething happened the day I bought my truck. I guess I bumped the transfer case lever, went to drive and had nothing then grinding. I was pissed, thought I was sold a lemon. Sat there and read the manual and figured it out. Just a note the AT/P light is a warning because if the trasnfer case is in neutral and Park will not engage and the truck will roll!

 

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